The new federal TEACH Grant (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants) program is currently in negotiated rulemaking, as I mentioned in my previous post. This grant will be effective for the 2008-09 academic year. What I have heard about this program is this:
The TEACH Grant is intended to provide a grant in the amount of $4,000 per year ($16,000 maximum for undergraduate or certification and $8,000 for graduate) for students in a teacher program who plan to teach in a Title I school in certain “high need” subject areas after graduation. These “highly qualified teachers” must teach a minimum of four years within eight years after completing a teacher program. At this time, “highly qualified teachers” has not been defined. Students must be taking courses that are in the teacher degree program, and must have a 3.25 GPA. How the GPA is determined (cumulative, I assume) has yet to be determined.
The TEACH Grant is intended to provide a grant in the amount of $4,000 per year ($16,000 maximum for undergraduate or certification and $8,000 for graduate) for students in a teacher program who plan to teach in a Title I school in certain “high need” subject areas after graduation. These “highly qualified teachers” must teach a minimum of four years within eight years after completing a teacher program. At this time, “highly qualified teachers” has not been defined. Students must be taking courses that are in the teacher degree program, and must have a 3.25 GPA. How the GPA is determined (cumulative, I assume) has yet to be determined.
The TEACH Grant is intended to provide a grant in the amount of $4,000 per year ($16,000 maximum for undergraduate or certification and $8,000 for graduate) for students in a teacher program who plan to teach in a Title I school in certain “high need” subject areas after graduation. These “highly qualified teachers” must teach a minimum of four years within eight years after completing a teacher program. At this time, “highly qualified teachers” has not been defined. Students must be taking courses that are in the teacher degree program, and must have a 3.25 GPA. How the GPA is determined (cumulative, I assume) has yet to be determined.
Now, while this sounds like a good thing, there are drawbacks. If you fail to meet the teaching requirements after graduation, you will be required to repay the grant as a Direct Unsubsidized Loan from the date the grant was originally disbursed. This means interest will have accumulated during the period you were in school. It will turn into a loan!
There is a new question on the 2008-09 FAFSA on the Web in the “Info About You” section that asks if you plan on completing coursework to be an elementary or secondary teacher. The question will not appear on the paper FAFSA. At this time, your answer will not appear on your Student Aid Report. The federal processor plans to send new electronic Student Aid Reports to schools in mid-February for those who have answer yes to this question.
At this time, a national committee has been formed, including personnel from the elementary and secondary field, as well as those in post-secondary education, to participate in negotiated rulemaking. As I mentioned in my last post, negotiated rulemaking is voluntary. While this committee does not have final say in the implementation of this program, the Department of Education does take their suggestions and proposals into consideration.
For you teacher education majors, stayed tuned. I’ll keep you informed as rules and regulations are defined for this program.